Quantcast

Bowlers savage calls to award sixes more

When MS Dhoni suggested the biggest hits should be worth more than six runs, the bowlers of the world cried out in revolt

It's a tough life being a fast bowler: short boundaries, big-hitting batsmen, balls that don't swing, pitches that don't bounce, and up to eight times your body weight landing on your front foot, ball after ball.

Bowlers are already quick to lament cricket is "a batsman's game". The shorter the format, the louder the lament. So when batters recently started suggesting sixes should be worth more runs, it drew an understandably outraged reaction from bowlers around the world.

After a spate of recent comments from around the globe calling for bigger sixes to receive a bigger reward, cricket.com.au took the question to the people.


The fans' poll – which is still open – attracted thousands of responses, with about 55 per cent saying there should be no change to the Laws, and sixes, no matter the distance, should still be worth six runs.

About a quarter of respondents were of the opinion monster hits should be worth eight runs, while about 10 per cent voted for options of 10 or 12 runs.

Super Samson blasts 10 sixes

It was all a bit of off-season fun, a talking point as we marvel at the ability of the game's biggest hitters to continually clear the ropes. Sanju Samson hit 10 sixes for the Rajasthan Royals last night, while Chris Gayle showed he's no spent force in the short-format with a blitz of his own.

But it clearly touched a nerve with the bowlers who make their living from the game, and none was more vehement in their dismissal than T20 specialist bowler Mitchell McClenaghan.

The Kiwi quick, who plied his trade with the Sydney Thunder in last season's Big Bash and is currently on duty with the Mumbai Indians in the IPL was savage in his assessment of the idea.

McClenaghan's tweet was dripping with sarcasm, the blunt shut-down of the suggestion made by others an instant viral hit on twitter, with 3,000 likes and counting.

South Africa pace spearhead Dale Steyn agreed, writing simply that McClenaghan had "nailed it".

And Australian spinner Fawad Ahmed followed up on the Kiwis's suggestions, saying a more appropriate levelling might be to take 10 runs from the batting score, bringing outdoor cricket closer to the rules the indoor version operates under.

NSW Blues seamer and former Australia Test bowler Trent Copeland joined the brigade of bowlers pooh-poohing the idea, giving it a thumbs down.

It all started earlier this week when legendary Indian wicketkeeper MS Dhoni – who last night hit his highest ever T20 score in his 280th match – claimed six runs undervalued the IPL's biggest hits.

"There were a lot of sixes, a lot of them went out of the stadium," said Dhoni.

"I feel the IPL needs to add two runs more every time you hit it out of the stadium."

Gayle, Dhoni turn back the clock

Former Australia batsman Dean Jones – a noted one-day player who would have thrived in the modern T20 era – suggested eight runs for hits above 80m when asked what rules he'd like to see altered.

And England's women's cricket star Nat Sciver said anything beyond five metres past the boundary used in the female game should be worth double.

Australia spinner Ashton Agar – perhaps the only bowler (though he is an allrounder) to speak in favour of the outlandish idea – suggesting eight runs, while others claimed sixes that reached the second tier of a stadium should earn a greater reward.

Dre Russ goes ballistic with 11 sixes

Australian viewers can watch the 2018 season of the IPL exclusively on Fox Sports